Ben Davis, Joyce DeWitt and More to Star in Totem Pole Playhouse's 2015 Summer Season; Casting Announced!

Totem Pole Playhouse, Pennsylvania's premiere summer stock theatre located in Caledonia State Park between Gettysburg and Chambersburg, has announced the casting for the theatre's 65th Anniversary summer season. Included in the casts will be the star of a current, long-running CBS television series, a star from one of the classic TV sitcoms of the 1970s and '80s, a Tony Award-winning, internationally-acclaimed baritone, and a veteran stage actor offering his final performance in his one-man show directed by an Oscar Award-winning director. Franklin County Visitors Bureau is the season's sponsor.

Totem Pole's Producing Artistic Director, Rowan Joseph, also announced added benefits to the playhouse's current on-going subscription campaign and a new venue for the theatre's annual presentation of A Christmas Carol which returned this past December after a ten year hiatus.

Starring in the opening play of the season The Nerd will be Eric Szmanda from the long-running CBS series, C.S.I., Crime Scene Investigation. Szmanda has played the role of lab tech, 'Greg Sanders' since the series premiered in 2000 and is the last remaining original cast member of the show which currently stars Emmy-Award winner, Ted Danson. The Nerd will play May 29 through June 14. The comedy about an unexpected guest who turns out to be a bumbling oaf with no social sense, little intelligence, and even less tact set box office records 27 years ago when it first played Totem Pole. David Hemsley Caldwell will direct the production which is sponsored by F&M Trust.

Internationally acclaimed baritone, Ben Davis, who received a Special Tony Award Honor for his work in Baz Luhrmann's Broadway production of La Boheme, will lead a cast of 25 actors in Totem Pole's production of the award-winning Broadway musical, Shenandoah. Based on the well known film starring Jimmy Stewart, Shenandoah tells the story of a strong willed Virginia farmer trying to keep his family neutral as the Civil War rages around them. Producing Artistic Director, Rowan Joseph, and choreographer, Christine O'Grady, who staged last season's musical Godspell will team-up again. The show will feature a seven piece orchestra and run from June 19 through July 5 sponsored by Paul D. Orange Family Medicine.

Twenty five years ago this year, acclaimed stage and television actor, Granville Van Dusen, premiered his one man play, The Memoirs of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg College's Kline Theater. The original production was directed by Academy Award-winning film director, Delbert Mann. During the last 25 years, Mr. Van Dusen has performed the play to great critical success across the U.S. and for the PBS network. This third offering in Totem Pole Playhouse's 2015 season will mark Mr. Van Dusen's final performance of the play, coming full circle and ending where it all began. The Lincoln Leadership Institute at Gettysburg is sponsoring the return production which runs from July 10 through July 26.

For the first time on Totem Pole's stage and closing out the four show subscription series will be the long-running Broadway musical, Grease. Playing the only adult role in the show, 'Miss Lynch,' will be Joyce DeWitt from the classic 1970's and 80's TV series "Three's Company." The musical features a young, vibrant cast of 19, starring Broadway actors Alex Aguilar and Megan Campanile as 'Danny Zuko' and 'Sandy Dumbrowski' in the roles John Travolta and Olivia Newton John played in the movie version of the musical. Totem Pole's musical director for the season, Darren Server, will handle the musical chores and lead the band for the show. The production runs from July 31 through August 16 and has themes and dialogue which are not appropriate for audience members under the age of 12. The co-sponsors for the show are Walker, Connor, & Spang, L.L.C. and Edward Jones.

In addition to the four-show regular season, Totem Pole will also offer the world premiere of a special tribute concert, Lovesick Blues, featuring the music of country western singing legends Hank Williams, Sr. and Patsy Cline. Totem Pole audience favorite, Robbie Limon, will portray Williams and Denise Patton who worked on last season's Johnny Cash musical, Ring of Fire, will return to play Cline. Backed by a six-piece band, the duo will cover dozens of classic Country Western hits made popular by each singer as well as several songs which had been sung by both artists. The show will run from August 18 thru the 23 and for eight performances only.

Ticket prices range from $30.00 to $50.00. M & T Bank serves as the show's sponsor.

"We are very excited by the caliber of talent appearing on our stage this summer." said Totem Pole's Joseph, "These are artists that audiences pay hundreds of dollars a ticket to see in New York and London. Additionally, anyone who subscribes this season will be locked into that price for the next four years, through the 2018 season." Joseph said ticket prices are slated to increase slightly beginning next season. "Plus, our subscribers save $10.00 off of each ticket they purchase for our annual holiday production of A Christmas Carol, which means for example instead of paying $19.50 for a children's ticket they pay $9.50 which is a substantial savings. The other added benefit of subscribing is you are guaranteed to get a seat to all four shows. We expect even more sellouts this season than last since both of our musicals are running one week less than last year."

Joseph also announced the signing of a four-year agreement with Gettysburg College's Majestic Theater to present Totem Pole's legendary production of A Christmas Carol at the venue through 2018. The show had a successful return last December to the Capitol Theatre in Chambersburg after a 10 year absence.

"Emotionally it was a difficult decision for me to make," Joseph said, "but the production just grew so much in size and scope beyond the space at the Capitol, especially the backstage area." Joseph also explained that Actors' Equity Association, the professional actors union, granted a one-time waiver last year that allowed the production to proceed but was not willing to do so again this year. "The staff and management at the Capitol were absolutely wonderful; our production has simply grown too big for the Capitol's stage."

Subscription prices which had been substantially lowered last year from the previous year will remain the same for this season. In addition, a FLEX subscription plan will be offered whereby subscribers have the flexibility to choose the performance they wish to attend rather than be locked into a set date for each production.

Those interested in subscribing to the season or purchasing tickets for single shows may do so either on line through Totem Pole's website at www.totempoleplayhouse.org or by calling the playhouse's box office Monday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm at (717) 352-2164, ext 1.